Cat Work Tools 36 Inch Skid Steer Trencher🔵 Mid
🟢 Standard Flow
⚠ High-flow machine required
✓ Compatible with high-flow CTL
⚠ Borderline for small-frame machines — verify ROC
✓ Fits most mid-frame skid steers & CTLs
View on cat.com →
Overview
Cat Work Tools offers a 36-inch depth chain trencher for Cat skid steers and CTLs. Used for utility installation, irrigation lines, and conduit placement on Canadian construction sites. Cat's trencher features a chain-drive boom with replaceable cutting teeth. Available through Cat dealers across Canada.
Canada Availability
Available through Cat Work Tools dealers across Canada.
Key Facts
- Brand: Cat Work Tools
- Trench depth: 36 inches
- Type: chain trencher
- Drive: hydraulic chain drive
- Mount: Cat quick attach (BOCE)
- Application: utility installation, irrigation, conduit lines
- Weight: 550–1600 lbs
- Hydraulic flow: 15–30 GPM
✅ Specs sourced from cat.com · Last verified: March 2026
Is This Right For You?
✅ Buy if…
- You trench through soft to moderate soil for utilities, drainage, or irrigation lines at 36–60 inch depth
- Your soil is clay, loam, sandy loam, or river bottom — chain trenchers cut fast in these conditions
⛔ Skip if…
- Your soil is solid rock, dense caliche, or Shield granite — chain links and sprockets wear out fast in rock
- You trench in deeply frozen Prairie ground regularly — rock chain at 3–5× wear rate makes winter trenching expensive
🔍 Also consider…
- Rock wheel trencher if your ground is consistently rocky or hardpan
- Standard auger if you're drilling individual holes rather than continuous trench lines
🔧 Machine Compatibility
Compatible with all skid steer brands and compact track loaders via universal SSQA quick attach. Mid-frame machines (S450–S650 class) are the most common fit.
About Cat in Canada
Caterpillar attachments are backed by the largest dealer network in Canada, with service centres in every major city. OEM quality with the assurance of nationwide parts and support.
Care & Maintenance
- Inspect chain teeth after every use — worn teeth slow penetration dramatically and increase drive motor load; a full day's work can dull a chain in abrasive soil
- Lubricate the drive chain and boom sprockets before each use and again after every 4 hours of continuous trenching
- Check the boom bar for cracking or deformation after work in rocky or abrasive conditions — boom cracks propagate quickly under the bending loads of trenching
- Clean soil from the drive motor cooling fins and chain case after summer use — compacted soil on the motor causes overheating on long cuts
- Store the chain with teeth protected from ground contact — resting a chain on carbide tips on concrete chips the teeth before you've even used it
How to Connect
- Attach trencher boom using Bob-Tach
- Connect high-flow hydraulic couplers
- Test chain tension and direction before cutting
- Call 811 and verify all utilities located before first cut
⚠ Safety NoteCanada-wide: call 811 before you dig. Hydraulic trenchers may need 20-35 GPM depending on rock hardness.
⛏️ Before You Buy a Trencher
Most chain trenchers require high-flow hydraulics — confirming your machine's output is the single most important step before purchase.
- Verify your machine outputs 18–30 GPM high-flow Check your flow spec →
- Chain trencher vs rock wheel — match to your soil and rock conditions Chain vs rock wheel →
- Call 811 before any dig — utility locate is required by law in Canada
Find a Trencher Dealer →
Complete the job — you might also need:
✅ Last checked: March 2026
Source: skidsteerattachments.ca/catalog/trenchers/cat-trencher-36/
Ready to Buy? Check These First
⚙️
Confirm Machine Fit
Verify your machine's hydraulic flow meets this attachment's requirements before ordering. High-flow attachments need 25–45+ GPM — standard flow machines won't run them properly.
Check your machine's flow →
🇨🇦
Find a Canadian Dealer
Buy through a Canadian dealer for warranty support, parts, and service. Avoid grey-market imports on high-ticket attachments.
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